Orangutan Update - Is Female Already Here? - Still No Work Being Done at Triple Grotto

The question remains from my post last weekend, Where will the Orangutans go?

http://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2019/03/orangutans-where-will-they-go.html

After posting late last Friday, I felt a rush of emotion and cried.  It appears, the Orangutans will be living in Triple Grotto as is, and that's incredibly sad to me.  I often wonder with how upset I get over Zoo issues, does anyone who works at the Zoo ever shed any tears about the way things are done?

I thought the Madagascar post I've been putting off for what is now a year, had factors that encompassed the core that is wrong with the way our San Francisco Zoo is managed, but, sadly there are issues that are even worse.  The hoarding and housing of Animals that there are no appropriate living spaces for is beyond upsetting.  Its frustrating because it would seem that some level of moral compassion would be in play, but the list of Animals that have been affected by decisions without empathy, seems to continue growing.  

As I pointed out in my last post, from what I can see, there is currently no appropriate place to house Orangutans.  That may change in the coming months, but today, no such place exists at the Zoo.  

I also wrote about Ollie the male who is on the way.  The news of his move from Erie Zoo to SFZoo was the catalyst for my two Orangutan posts, as I, like so many others, including Zoo Staff, were surprised that the Zoo was acquiring Orangutans at this time.  A time when the new Chimpanzee Yard is still not finished, a time when the former Chimpanzee/future Orangutan enclosure has had no renovation work done on it, which together with the Madagascar build and Snow Leopard expansion, make four construction projects in the works at once.  

People have asked me, and the consensus was that same lead in question, in addition to my other question,  What is the rush?  Why is Ollie, being moved at this time?  The Erie Zoo noted there was up to a year before there would be issues with being housed with his Father.  So Why right now?  Why not in a month? or two or three?  When the Yard might be done, as well as something updated in Triple Grotto?

That question is even more of an issue now, not only with Ollie, but as rumor has it, the Female Orangutan is already in SFZoo quarantine!   I was sick to hear this and hoped someone would come to their senses and not transfer these poor Animals yet, ... silly me.   So now, the question expands to, Why were either of these Animals moved from established homes to a place with no appropriate home for them?  

While we ask, What is the rush?  An equally important question is, Who's pushing for this prematurely?  Is it our Director, and/or the AZA/Orangutan SSP?  It has to be a high level decision maker and that only leaves those two.  Director Peterson allegedly dictates everything at the Zoo, but allegedly the AZA/SSP make it known that Zoos should follow their suggestions or face consequences.  I would bet that there are more than a few people in Animal Care that aren't too happy with what's going on with the Orangutans.  

I wondered in my last post if they were going to just toss the Orangutans into Triple Grotto as is, even though it was deemed unfit for the AZA to send the Zoo more Chimpanzees.  I now wonder if that isn't a pretty spot on assumption, so that the Zoo could have something new to deflect from all the other construction going on?

I usually visit the Zoo three times a week.  Last week was no different.  Not one of the days did I see or hear any work being done in Triple Grotto.  As well, there didn't seem to be anything new added in the area of the new Yard or in the process of building the new Skytrail.  So, again, Where Will the Orangutans Go?  Sadly, I fear they will go to quarantine and stay there past the usual 30 days.

Here's a video I made of clips filmed last week. It shows our Chimps and the status of Triple Grotto.  Since they are closed out of the Triple Grotto, they only have the Skytrail as outdoor access.  This will not change until the new Yard is finished.  The new Yard appears to be no where near done.  Triple Grotto shows no signs of renovation for Orangutans.  

https://youtu.be/90qJNOz8a9k

Chimps in Skytrail.  

Their only outdoor access 

for the past two+ weeks.

I took a good look at the Pachyderm Building and it seems there would have been space on the other side of the wall from the new Yard to build additional bedrooms for the Orangutans, without interfering with or displacing (which should never happen) Gauhati the Asian Rhino, who lives in the Pachyderm Building.  So, that's the other question, why were additional bedrooms not built there or at South Grotto, so the Orangutans had new night quarters?   If they had new night quarters and the new Yard was done, this wouldn't be as tragic as it appears.

There seems to be alot of questions Why? surrounding the timing of the Orangutans arrival, and what to do with them when quarantine is over.  Its very curious why the whole Orangutan situation is being kept so secret.  Even though the Erie Zoo made their announcement over a month ago, SFZoo has yet to mention it.  I applaud Erie Zoo as they wanted to let their community know, and those who love Ollie could visit him before he left.  At the SFZoo, you just show up one day and an Animal is gone. ...  I have to wonder if it isn't because they know the timing of this is not right for the Animals? and they don't want outside opinions about it!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*